Reiki is an energy work developed in Japan in which the practitioner manipulates and interacts with an individual’s energy using their hands.  I have had this therapy a few times and found the experience to be somewhat subtle, quite pleasant, gentle and  overall very relaxing.

 

Hawaiian Energy Work

I was in an auto accident early this year when I was rear-ended.  About two weeks later, I developed a nagging, persistent neck pain with some radiation to the shoulder which began to concern me somewhat. I approached a Hawaiian energy master who by using the energy from his hands diagnosed what he felt was a subluxation of  the cervical spine, meaning that the spine was slightly out of place.   Using a combination of chiropractic neck manipulation followed by some energy work on the back of my neck to calm down the pain and inflammation, I walked out in a single 50 minute visit, tremendously improved in terms of my symptoms and very grateful.  This is one example that I am very familiar with and am frustrated by patients being in severe discomfort with no other approach to treatment other than medications with many side effects, cervical neck collars which restrict motion to a great degree or rather risky and often unsatisfactory surgical intervention.

Barbara Brennan’s Energy Work

Barbara Brennan is a physicist who has tried to quantify energy to some degree.  Her book,  Hands of Light has been widely read.  I went originally at the encouragement of a friend who had an interesting experience and had my aura read along with some energy feedback which I found rather fascinating.  The therapy itself involves the use of the practitioner’s hands and the energy effects were somewhat more powerful than my prior experience with Reiki, but rather pleasant nonetheless. 

 

Qigong

Qigong is an ancient Chinese practice of energy work which has been an officially accepted form of alternative medicine in China and Canada.  I had heard of its existence and was quite curious when I was introduced to this practice by a physician friend who is an assistant professor of pediatric neurology and happens to be of Chinese decent.  There exist about 300 different forms of Qigong and the style I happened to stumble across happens to be taught by a Qigong Master who was felt to be one, if not the best Qigong Master in China based on his level of energy and ability to heal.  His name is Dr. Yan Xin and he is trained in both China’s version of traditional Western medicine as well as traditional Chinese medicine.  He is said to have practiced Qigong from the age of four when the Qigong Master discovered he had some special energy abilities from the time of birth.  Dr. Yan Xin then spent the next 45 years training himself and promoting the practice both in China and for the last seven years, in the United States and Canada as well.

The practice involves a form of  “internal Qigong” which is in essence a meditative type practice in which one maintains a particular posture for a prolonged period of time practicing multiple simultaneous imagined visual and sensory activities all of which are primarily focused around breathing.  Dr. Yan is already quite famous throughout China and is becoming more well known among the alternative medicine community within the United States and Canada.  Dr. Andrew Weil mentioned him during a talk at the Harvard Conference of Alternative Medicine in March of this year.  I have met him personally a couple of times sitting through hours of his famous “Chi” emitting lectures. As one performs the practice, one’s energy ability seems significantly enhanced.

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an example of  “external Qigong” where one uses one’s body in various martial art type moves to create the experience of moving energy throughout one’s body.  This practice combines meditation with a fairly “blank mind”, martial arts, a very gentle joint-friendly type of exercise and breathing.  Although it takes time and effort to learn, it is an exercise one can practice for life and most Chinese learn this as children.

Acupuncture

Chinese traditional medicine which includes acupuncture, Tai Chi, massage, energy emission therapy (by a Master) and herbals all are said to have their origins in the practice of Qigong.  It is said the best acupuncturists are those who have the highest level of  “Chi” resulting from regular Qigong practice.